Ransomware cyber-attack a wake-up call

Darren Phelps

Doing so could infect not only your computer, but whatever network you're on - that's how the virus spreads. That's why it's called ransomware. Shadow Brokers, the group that is believed to behind the theft of the NSA hacking tools, has already threatened to put out more of these tools in the public. Microsoftreleased a patch for the vulnerability in March. While this protected newer Windows systems and computers that had enabled Windows Update to apply this latest update, many computers remained unpatched globally.

WannaCry uses a vulnerability in old versions of Windows that was originally discovered and exploited by the U.S. National Security Agency as an offensive cyber-weapon. In Kerala, one of the most digitized states of India, half-a-dozen computers across two districts - Waynand and Patanamthitta - were affected. But this in no way means that Apple users are not vulnerable to such cyber-attacks.

Install Microsoft's official patch. Back up your data on an offline hard drive. 4. The easiest thing to do is approve auto-updates, if your particular Windows system allows that. Use a reputable security software to prevent attacks in the future.

Experts said the ransomware program appears to support dozens of languages, showing that the hackers wanted to corrupt networks worldwide.

Although the sinkholing of the WannaCrypt domain has been successful, MalwareTechwarned the measure will only provide temporary relief as the worm authors - or copycats - could release a new variant with modified code.

"So there's a good chance they are going to do it. maybe not this weekend, but quite likely on Monday morning".

Security experts say the unprecedented ransomeware attack that on Friday locked up computers across the globe including United Kingdom hospital, FedEx, train systems in Germany among other institutions in exchange for payment, could cause even more trouble as the work week begins.

Kemenkominfo also added some additional steps IT management within firms or organizations can take to protect entire networks from WannaCry, such as installing the MS17-010 patch on Windows computers and running up-to-date anti-virus softwares.

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